Open-air beef noodles in Guangfu New Village, Wufeng – a “continuous banquet” that only appears after dark

Text and photos / Mirror Media Weekly

For those who once lived in military dependents' villages, noodles and marinated meats are common national dishes. The people of these villages loved cooking noodles, marinating small dishes, and drinking a little wine. Coming to Guangfu New Village in Wufeng, Taichung, feels like stepping back to a time when the villagers had not yet moved away. What you taste on your tongue is a memory, making even the everyday noodles feel extraordinary.



The boss provides free chili sauce, which is really flavorful.

Around 4 p.m., about a dozen round tables resembling a continuous banquet are already set up in front of the Guangfu New Village Supply Market by the village’s circular road. People gradually start to take their seats, and the crowd gets bigger as the night goes on, resembling a lively banquet scene – the atmosphere is amazing.

This old shop mainly serves beef noodles, with a simple and solid flavor. The lard-mixed noodles also taste pretty good. But the people in Guangfu New Village all say you absolutely must not miss their marinated meats. The marinated items are placed in a transparent glass cabinet, with a huge variety to choose from: marinated beef, beef tripe, chicken feet, duck wings… it made me so hungry I wanted to order everything. After struggling to decide what to get, I handed my choices to the boss to slice and plate. Even though I didn’t know the prices, there was no need to worry — the final bill turned out to be very affordable, so almost everyone’s table had a big plate of them.


▲ The slightly bitter and fragrant sesame paste noodles, paired with the lighter-flavored marinated meats, make for a fantastic meal.

There are more than just this one super-popular noodle shop. At the other end of the circular road, there’s also a “Nameless Noodle Shop by the Roundabout,” which has been around for over 40 years. It also serves beef noodles, dry noodles, sesame paste noodles, and other noodle dishes, along with marinated meats. Curious, I went to check it out and saw the stall was also packed with no empty seats. When I caught the drifting aroma of “sesame paste noodles,” even though I was already full, I couldn’t resist ordering another bowl — and of course, I had to pair it with a few small marinated meat snacks.

Both noodle shops have their own fans. I love the marinated meats from “Guangfu Old-Style Noodles” and the noodle dishes from the “Nameless Noodle Shop by the Roundabout.” Next time you visit Guangfu New Village in Wufeng, be sure to try the experience of eating outdoors in the summer breeze while enjoying great food — it’s seriously so much fun you won’t believe it！